Energy auditing

Background of energy auditing

Energy is a readily manageable cost that can be easily reduced by means of an energy audit to identify areas of energy wastage and appropriate technical improvements. These cost savings go straight on your bottom line making your business more profitable while reducing its impact on the environment.

Energy audits are a good start to controlling your energy costs but to maintain and build on the momentum achieved and ensure systematic continuous improvement in energy performance, the next step should be developing and implementing an ISO 50001-based Energy Management System (EnMS).

Benefits of implementing an energy management system

Some of the benefits of an effective energy management system include:

Ongoing assessment of an organization’s usage to identify production errors,

Reduced energy wastage and increased energy savings,

Optimized energy usage and cost,

Control of energy costs and improved competitiveness.

Guidance for implementing an energy management system

Our energy auditors can assist you to improve your energy management system by:

Producing a detailed report with recommendations and advice for long-term energy savings in line with best practice,

Producing a gap analysis and action plan for implementing ISO 50001.

Energy auditing

An energy audit is an important step for an organisation, whatever its size or type, wanting to improve its energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and bring related environmental benefits and cost savings. An energy audit shows how and why energy is being used and where it is being wasted.

The standard BS EN 16247 “Energy audits. General requirements” defines the attributes of a good quality energy audit for commercial, industrial, residential and public-sector organisations by stating the requirements for energy audits and corresponding obligations within the energy auditing process. It recognises that there are differences in approach to energy auditing in terms of scope, aims and thoroughness, but seeks to harmonise common aspects of energy auditing in order to bring more clarity and transparency to the market for energy auditing services.

Our energy auditors are registered with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and auditing to the BS EN 16247 standard they will work with you to identify and evaluate energy consumption patterns and uses, identify inefficiencies or poor practice and then recommend appropriate energy efficiency and cost saving methods. Cost savings are based on life cycle analysis by using Net Present Value (NPV) instead of the simple payback method so meeting the requirements of the Regulations described below.

Cost savings of approximately 10% can typically be made by implementing zero cost actions which typically include procedural changes and staff training. A further 10% savings are often realised through low cost measures such as improved heating and lighting controls where paybacks of less than one year are typical.

EED – A legal requirement

The European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 426/2014) transpose into Irish law European Directive 2012/27/EU on Energy Efficiency. Under the Regulations, all organisations which are not SMEs (i.e. enterprises which employ fewer than 250 employees and have an annual turnover not exceeding €50,000,000 or annual balance sheet total not exceeding €43,000,000) will either have to carry out an energy audit or have a certified energy or environmental management system in place.

The energy audits must be conducted by a registered energy auditor and will need to take place by 5 December 2015 and every four years thereafter. The energy or environmental management system must be certified by an independent body to a relevant standard, such as ISO 50001, where the SEAI has ensured that the management system concerned includes an energy audit on the basis of the minimum criteria set out in the EU Energy Efficiency Directive.

The requirement for undertaking energy audits or having a certified management system will also apply to public bodies with individual buildings with a total useful floor area of more than 500 square meters or an annual energy spend of more than €35,000. Other requirements placed on public bodies relate to energy efficient public procurement and the purchase or lease of energy efficient buildings. The Regulations also include provisions relating to:

Metering and billing for energy users, including requirements regarding the roll-out of individual meters or smart metering systems, time-of-use tariffing and free billing for energy usage;

The promotion of energy efficiency in the CHP sector; obligations regarding the co-ordination, supervision and issuance of guarantees of origin;

The removal of possible barriers to energy efficiency in the rental sector, in particular as regards the split of incentives between owners and tenants;

The promotion of energy efficiency information pertaining to e.g. energy usage, incentives and financing possibilities, energy audits and services and benefits of smart meters, to all energy users.

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Energy training courses

BioLogiQ has developed and runs a range of public and in-house energy courses, including:

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Carbon

We can also help you measure your organisation’s carbon footprint (in accordance with the ISO 14064 standard) report the findings and assist in action planning to manage and mitigate your emissions. For more information see our page on carbon management.